Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins: A Biography
Full Name and Common Aliases
Full Name: Clinton Richard Dawkins
Common Aliases: Richard Dawkins
Birth and Death Dates
Birth Date: March 26, 1941
Death Date: N/A
Nationality and Profession(s)
Nationality: British
Profession(s): Evolutionary Biologist, Ethologist, Author, Professor
Early Life and Background
Richard Dawkins was born in Nairobi, Kenya, where his father was stationed during World War II. The family returned to England when Dawkins was eight years old. Growing up in a household that valued education and scientific inquiry, Dawkins developed an early interest in the natural world. He attended Oundle School, a prestigious boarding school in England, where his passion for biology began to flourish. Dawkins went on to study zoology at Balliol College, Oxford, under the tutelage of Nobel Prize-winning ethologist Nikolaas Tinbergen. This formative period at Oxford laid the groundwork for his future contributions to the field of evolutionary biology.
Major Accomplishments
Richard Dawkins is best known for his pioneering work in the field of evolutionary biology, particularly for his concept of the "selfish gene," which revolutionized the way scientists and the public understand natural selection. His ability to communicate complex scientific ideas in an accessible manner has made him a prominent figure in both academic and popular circles. Dawkins has held various academic positions, including serving as a lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley, and later as a fellow of New College, Oxford. In 1995, he was appointed the inaugural Charles Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford, a position he held until his retirement in 2008.
Notable Works or Actions
Dawkins' first book, "The Selfish Gene" (1976), introduced the gene-centered view of evolution and popularized the concept of memes as units of cultural transmission. This groundbreaking work has been translated into numerous languages and remains a cornerstone of evolutionary biology literature. His subsequent book, "The Extended Phenotype" (1982), further explored the implications of gene-centered evolution, arguing that the influence of genes extends beyond the organism's body to affect the environment.
In addition to his scientific contributions, Dawkins is a vocal advocate for atheism and secularism. His book "The God Delusion" (2006) became an international bestseller, challenging religious beliefs and promoting a rational, evidence-based worldview. Dawkins has also been involved in various public debates and discussions, often addressing the intersection of science and religion.
Impact and Legacy
Richard Dawkins' impact on both science and society is profound. His work has reshaped the understanding of evolutionary biology, emphasizing the role of genes in shaping behavior and evolution. The concept of the "selfish gene" has become a fundamental principle in the study of life sciences, influencing research across multiple disciplines.
Beyond his scientific contributions, Dawkins' advocacy for atheism and secularism has sparked widespread discussion and debate. He has inspired a generation of thinkers and activists to question religious dogma and embrace a scientific approach to understanding the world. His efforts to promote science education and critical thinking have left a lasting legacy, encouraging a more informed and rational public discourse.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Richard Dawkins is widely quoted and remembered for his ability to articulate complex scientific ideas in a clear and engaging manner. His writings and speeches often challenge conventional wisdom, prompting readers and listeners to reconsider their beliefs and assumptions. Dawkins' eloquence and wit have made him a compelling figure in public debates, and his quotes often capture the essence of his arguments with precision and clarity.
His influence extends beyond the scientific community, reaching a global audience through his books, lectures, and media appearances. Dawkins' commitment to promoting science and reason has made him a prominent voice in contemporary discussions on evolution, religion, and the nature of human existence. As a result, his words continue to resonate with those who seek to understand the world through the lens of science and rational inquiry.
Quotes by Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins's insights on:
Brains function on a need-to-know basis, and the need-to-know in order to survive on the African plains as hunter-gatherers. It's pure bonus if we manage to understand a bit about relativity and quantum theory as well. I think it's a tremendous privilege that we can understand as much as we can.
An Internet meme is a hijacking of the original idea. Instead of mutating by random change and spreading by a form of Darwinian selection, Internet memes are altered deliberately by human creativity. There is no attempt at accuracy of copying, as with genes - and as with memes in their original version
The selfish gene. They are in you and in me; they created us, body and mind; and their preservation is the ultimate rationale for our existence... they go by the name of genes, and we are their survival machines.
It doesn't hurt my feelings when I get vilified by fundamentalist. I've actually made comedy out of it. I've made light of that.
The idea of an afterlife where you can be reunited with loved ones can be immensely consoling – though not to me.
If it is solely an evolutionary convenience, there is really no such thing as good or evil.
If you listen to two people who are arguing about something, and they each of them have passionate faith that they're right, but they believe different things—they belong to different religions, different faiths, there is nothing they can do to settle their disagreement short of shooting each other, which is what they very often actually do.
Biology is the study of the complex things in the Universe. Physics is the study of the simple ones.
There is another kind of altruism that seems to go beyond that, a kind of super-altruism, which humans appear to have. And I think that does need a Darwinian explanation.
DNAÂ is ROM. It can be read millions of times over, but only written to once - when it is first assembled the birth of the cell in which it resides.